The Quasar Feedback Survey: Ionised outflows in type 2 QSOs with MUSE data
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The impact of feedback from active supermassive black holes on their host galaxies is a key phenomenon in understanding galaxy evolution. We study ionised gas properties in a sample of 18 luminous (log L_ ̊m bol obscured Quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) in the nearby Universe (0.085<z<0.2$) observed with VLT/MUSE as part of the multi-wavelength Quasar Feedback Survey (QFeedS) and with VLA at low- and high-resolution data , 1 and 0.3 respectively . Our main goal is to characterise the disturbed gas kinematics in this galaxy sample. We compare the outflow-related quantities with values reported in the literature and investigate possible correlations between the outflows and other properties of the ionised gas, such as the electron density. We adopt a non-parametric approach to characterise the ionised gas kinematics, traced by the 4711,4740 doublet, only observable in the integrated r=1.5 <27700, leading to 0.03$< _ emission line, and use W_80 measured from the unresolved nuclear spectra as a threshold to identify outflow-dominated spaxels. A qualitative comparison between the radio and the W_80 maps shows that, in general, the peak of the radio coincides with the peak of the W_80. is used as a proxy for the ionised gas mass, and the outflow-related properties are obtained in two different ways: the global, using flux-weighted velocities and radii and the peak, which relies on radial profiles. We correct the flux for extinction using the Balmer decrement. We take advantage of the MUSE sensitivity and use the iv spectra, to measure the electron density in each galaxy. We obtain 500<n_ ̊m e cm^ -3 M ̊m out / ̊m M_⊙ yr^ -1 <4.17 and 39< _ E ̊m kin / ̊m -1 <42$. Our results emphasize the importance of accurate electron density determination, leading to a difference of 1 dex in the outflow rates and kinetic powers. We observe a positive correlation between n_e and $V_ ̊m out , interpreted as compression of the gas at higher velocities. This correlation should be further investigated at other luminosity and redshift ranges, but it can inform future outflow simulation studies.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
Funders: National Science Foundation, Aspen Center for Physics, Gruber Foundation, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, European Commission, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, European Southern Observatory, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Awards: G1105844351, G1207375514, G1629335119, G2257393230, G2351152971, G2456866116, G2554800379, G2595738051, G2974678343, G3417073800, G4016446957, G410571670, G4156530268, G4212894969, G451917667, G4728539003, G491712853, G5195188938, G523076202, G5441971315, G5539308778, G5635532810, G5865178605, G593054264, G5967599077, G6033112984, G6307073466, G6569653361, G7395345766, G7804586450, G7805626310, G7863371703, Programs on Critical Problems in Physics, Astrophysics and Biophysics at the Aspen Center for Physics, G8497050386, G863151887, G8667377315, G9000451760, G9001173149
OpenAlex ID: W7202199598